What's the Difference Between Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic Literature?

My favorite sci-fi sub-genre is post-apocalyptic science fiction, with dystopian literature coming in a respectable but distant second.

Why?

Because I'm fascinated by the behavior of people when the thin veneer of civilization is stripped away, and all hope is lost. What remains is a true glimpse of humanity at its worst and best, and the question "what makes us human" leaps to the forefront of existence.

For the past several years, dystopian literature has been hot, especially with young adults. Many readers remain confused about the subtle difference between dystopian literature and post-apocalyptic literature. Allow me to explain my interpretation of the difference.

A dystopia is a society where societal perfection or societal transcendence is obtained at the expense of something else. That "something else" could be a devalued class of people, the loss of a fundamental freedom, or the surrender of some aspect of human nature. Literary dystopias often arise through a slow process of societal change, or more abruptly as the result of some cataclysm. In either case, the dystopia represents society in a stable state, albeit a state most of us find appalling in some manner.

Post-apocalyptic literature, on the other hand, focuses on the instability during and/or following a cataclysmic event that shatters society both in form and headcount. During the story, whatever society exists is typically small, isolated, and highly threatened. Often there is little or no hope for any meaningful future. Although it is true that post-apocalyptic events can lead to the formation of dystopian societies, it is the immediately endangered nature of the society that interests me as a reader.

For example, I picked up Hunger Games in an airport years ago before it became a global phenomenon, because it is exactly the type of story that grabs my attention. Hunger Games is a dystopian story because it describes a stable but imperfect society that has sacrificed morality and most of the population for the comfort of a few. However, as a lover of post-apocalyptic stories, I wanted to know "how." How did this society emerge? What happened to create such a place? The story offers few clues, other than hints of a war.

I preferred the very poetic Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. The survivors of a zombie-plague apocalypse huddle together in a small community surrounded by a chain-link fence, unaware of other survivors. Pretty hopeless, right? Despite that hopelessness, a small band of teenagers venture into the unknown with a vague hope that there must be something better "out there."

So ... it may come as no surprise that I wrote a pair of post-apocalyptic novels. Write what you like; write what you know - right? My other stories are not of that sub-genre, but I suspect that I will revisit it later. My current PA novels are found at the link below.

The Shore of Monsters (1 and 2)

I'll leave you with this. The best example, in my opinion, of an utterly hopeless situation where survivors soldier on is the short story "A Pail of Air" by Fritz Leiber. It's available free on-line by the original publisher, Baen books. If your tastes mirror mine, then do yourself a favor and read it at the link below.

A Pail of Air by Fritz Leiber 

(Note - there is a short Preface, but the story starts at the line "Pa had sent me out to get an extra pail of air." Good opening line!)

Don't Be a Hater (or Why do you hate The Hunger Games?)

During the past ten years, at any given point in time there was "The Big Teen Novel". The Big Teen Novel was a particular work that most teens were reading, talking about, and obsessing over. Today that novel is The Hunger Games. Yesterday it was Twilight, and Harry Potter before that. With the arrival of every Big Teen Novel, there also appears The Haters of The Big Teen Novel. They arise from darkness like a band of flesh-eating zombies, wildly slashing at The Big Teen Novel and all of its loyal minions. Their contorted faces emit condescending moans that sound something like "must ... hate ... twilight!" or "die ... conformist ... morons!" The loyal minions respond with baffled astonishment, tearfully shouting, "how can you hate that which i find to be awesome beyond belief?"

This cycle repeats every few years or so, much to the amusement of more neutral bystanders. We watch with a self-satisfied shake of our heads as the haters and minions duel to the death - or until the next Big Teen Novel appears, whichever comes first.

So can I just say one thing? Just one little thing? Here, come a little closer, because I don't wish to shout. Are you listening now? Good.

JUST STOP IT!

For you loyal minions, you need to understand something about the haters. Most of them haven't even read your awesome novel, so any professions of hatred are not really intended for the story. What they really hate is conformity. They see you as a mindless addict to some prophet of literature who fills your mind with numbing words, rendering you blind and stupid. The sad news is that occasionally the haters are right. But mostly they are bitter because nobody worships their brilliance, and so demonstrate intellect by bashing you of the lower order brain. But here is the good news: popularity does not equal stupidity. Breathing is very popular and quite highly regarded. That does not make it a bad behavior exercised only by those who aren't independent enough to stop breathing. So forgive the haters, for they are slaves to something far more damaging than a book.

For you that hate: go find another game to play. Don't exercise your intellectual independence by squashing the literary preferences of others. Please find another outlet for your intellectual superiority. Otherwise, the rest of us will be forced to round up all of you, put you in a cage, and let you fight to the death. Now that would make for an interesting novel.